Explore Normandy and the châteaux of France’s Loire Valley on this 3-day tour from Paris. Visit famous Mont St-Michel and tour the Abbey with your guide. Travel deep into the château country of the Loire Valley and visit beautiful castles like Château de Chambord and the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived. Hear of the history and heritage of these spectacular mansions during your tours. This easy excursion from Paris is a wonderful way to see more of France. Overnight accommodation and comfortable coach transport are included.

Highlights

3-day tour of Normandy and the Loire Valley from Paris

Visit Mont St-Michel in Normandy, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Tour the Abbey with your knowledgeable guide and enjoy free time to explore

Visit 6 different historic French châteaux in the beautiful Loire Valley including Château de Chambord and Château de Langeais

Explore the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived

Includes 2 nights' accommodation in 3-star hotels with breakfast

Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach

What You Can Expect

Discover the beautiful Chateau de Langeais

Depart Paris and head through the Normandy countryside to the historic Mont St-Michel. Enjoy a guided tour of the interior of the Abbey, then explore the streets and alleyways in your own free time and soak up the atmosphere at your leisure.

Travel to Angers and take in views of the 9th-century Château d'Angers before continuing onward to tour the Château de Langeais and the Château du Clos Lucé. Wander the ground of the Château Villandry and admire the beautiful gardens there. End your day with a visit to the ancient town of Tours.

Take a guided tour of Château de Chenonceau then travel on to Cheverny for lunch. End your tour with a guided visit of the Château de Chambord, widely considered to be the finest in the Loire Valley.

A knowledgeable guide, round-trip coach transport and overnight accommodation are included, as well as some meals.

Meet your guide near the Pyramides metro station in Paris in the morning and board your air-conditioned coach for the 4-hour journey west toward Normandy. Arrive for lunch at the restaurant ‘Relais Saint-Michel’ (see sample menu below) and take in spectacular views over the island of Mont St-Michel as you dine. One of the most famous places in France, Mont St-Michel has been a site of religious significance and strategic fortification since the 8th century, when the Bishop of Avranches built a small church there. In the course of its long life it has served as a place of pilgrimage for Benedictine monks and a prison during the French Revolution. Today, Mont St-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage site and people visit from across the world to explore its narrow alleyways and hear of its fascinating past.

Tour the Abbey with your guide to discover the cloister and refectory, see how the ramparts have been strengthened to support the Gothic monastery above and learn of Mont St-Michel’s history and heritage. Afterward, enjoy free time (until 4.30pm) to explore at your leisure and see Mont St-Michel's most impressive feature: the extreme tides. At low tide, Mont St-Michel is surrounded by open beach for miles, but at high tide — just six hours later — sea water rises up to fill the streams and eddies before filling the bay and surrounding the entire island!

As afternoon turns to early evening, hop back aboard your coach and head south for the Loire Valley. Many of France’s most impressive châteaux can be found here — there are more than 300 in total! Arrive in the city of Angers in the evening for dinner with your group and an overnight stay.

Depart Angers after a buffet breakfast at your hotel and drive out toward Amboise. Stop first to take in views of the impressive Château d'Angers — a 9th-century château overlooking the Maine River — before continuing on through the historic communes of Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault and Saumur to the town of Amboise.Visit the nearby Château de Langeais, originally a medieval castle. Langeais saw violent conflict in the 10th century and, following its destruction during the Hundred Years’ War, was rebuilt in the 15th century by King Louis XI. Today this beautiful building serves as one of the finest examples of late-medieval architecture in the world. After your tour, enjoy a little free time for lunch in Amboise (own expense).In the afternoon, explore the nearby Château du Clos Lucé, where the painter Leonardo da Vinci lived between 1516 and 1519. Clos Lucé, as it’s known locally, is now a museum dedicated to da Vinci and houses over 30 models of the various machines he invented. A copy of the Mona Lisa — his best-known painting — also hangs within the château.Continue onward to stroll around the immaculately-manicured gardens of the Château Villandry. Marvel at the gardens’ seasonal colors and symmetry, and enjoy capturing their beauty on camera. Head onward to visit the historic town of Tours for dinner.Overnight: 3-star hotel in Tours

Day 3: Tours – Chenonceau – Cheverny – Chambord – Paris (B, L)

After breakfast, depart Tours for a guided visit of the Château de Chenonceau, widely considered the most famous in the Loire Valley. The extraordinarily beautiful Château de Chenonceau was built in the early 16th century and its 4 arches span the length of the Cher River. Learn of its impressive history and architecture from your guide and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Continue onward to the Château de Cheverny and lunch. The Château de Cheverny has been in the same family for six centuries and boasts elegant interior, grand salons and a fine antique collection. It underwent major renovations in 1768 and the results can still be enjoyed today.

Your final visit is to the opulent Château de Chambord, the very largest in the Loire Valley. With its ornate French Renaissance architecture and imposing stature, the Château de Chambord impresses throughout. It was built in the early 16th century to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francis I of France, and to show off his considerable wealth. Take a tour of the château and learn of its amazing history from your guide.

Depart Chambord at 4.30pm for the 2.5-hour journey back to Paris, where your 3-day Mont St-Michel and châteaux tour will come to an end.

Sample Menu:

Main course:

Salmon accompanied by rice and vegetables

Dessert:

Apple pie

Drinks:

1 bottle of cider or mineral water for 6 people

Customer Reviews

Excellent tour giving a good overview of the Loire Valley region. Our knowledgable guide, Florence, gave just enough information to keep the interest level right. Great places to visit and highly recommend this tour.

Details

Inclusions

Transport in luxury air-conditioned coach

Entrance fees

Professional guide

2 nights accommodation in a 3 star hotel

Meals included : Lunch on the first day, buffet breakfasts, dinner every evening and lunch on the third day

Porterage service on hotel arrival and departure

Exclusions

Gratuities (optional)

Food and drink, unless specified

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

There is a maximum of two people per room. Separate bookings should be made for each room required.

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
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Local operator information

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Tour concludes at original point of departure on day 3 at approximately 7:00pm

3-Day Mont St MichelCode: ML3

3-Day Mont St Michel and Chateaux Country Tour from Paris in a twin/double room

Language Options

This tour/activity is available in the following language options:

English - Guide

Spanish - Guide

What is a tour/activity language option?
Many of our tours and activities are available in multiple languages.
"Guide" means your guide speaks the language noted.
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"Written" means a written description is offered in the language noted.
Please note: You can select a preferred language option on the checkout page.

3-Day Mont St Michel and Chateaux Country Tour from Paris in a single room

Language Options

This tour/activity is available in the following language options:

English - Guide

Spanish - Guide

What is a tour/activity language option?
Many of our tours and activities are available in multiple languages.
"Guide" means your guide speaks the language noted.
"Audio" means a headset or similar audio device is offered in the language noted.
"Written" means a written description is offered in the language noted.
Please note: You can select a preferred language option on the checkout page.

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